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Do you buy GPS only, or GPS + Cellular?


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GPS + cellular only because I prefer the stainless steel. I’d happily choose a GPS only stainless steel option if it would save me money
 
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I just erased my S7 and am returning it tomorrow.

I appreciate all of your comments, but I just can’t see the point of having the watch if you have to have your iPhone with you to be connected.

I have mental health issues, and have to be contactable at all times, otherwise the emergency services tend to get called!

There’s a well known retailer here in the UK that has my model, with cellular. Thus, no need to wait for Apple’s delivery dates.

I thought the AW wasn’t for me, but now I’ve had a good think about it, I think it’s just the thought of needing to have both devices on me that threw me. I now believe having cellular really brings the AW into its own, and offers flexibility.

And it’s only £5pm with o2 in the UK.

Thanks again for all of your responses, you’ve given me some great information.

sounds like you found the right solution for you. i guess for anyone the question is... do you ever want to be without your iPhone on you yet still be contactable and have limited internet service? if the answer is yes, get and subscribe to apple watch cellular. if you can't see a scenario where you would ever be without your iPhone then don't get cellular.
 
Here's a vote for cellular that is activated.

I have more than one apple watch, and one of them is always cellular. Yes, most of the time, I have my phone on me, but there are other times that cellular is worth it for me.

1. I surf, and awhile back, my head hit my board and I got a concussion. In the water, I texted my boyfriend to come get me; he was at the beach by the time I got to the water's edge. That would have been a very, very different experience for me without the watch.

2. TMI: I sometimes have night terrors/nightmares that lead me to jump out of bed and rush out of the house to escape. I remember further freaking out one time when I realized I'd forgotten my phone and, before I was truly conscious, the extreme panic I felt realizing that I was out there and all alone. Having a cellular watch that I sleep with gives me a peace of mind.

So, yeah, these are very unique experiences, but I share them -- even the second one that I'm thinking people are gonna go to town with -- because I encourage you to think of unusual uses for it, more than out for a run or forgot my phone. Those are good reasons that I share, too, but you might have other reasons for wanting and appreciating cellular. :)
 
I just erased my S7 and am returning it tomorrow.

I appreciate all of your comments, but I just can’t see the point of having the watch if you have to have your iPhone with you to be connected.

I have mental health issues, and have to be contactable at all times, otherwise the emergency services tend to get called!

There’s a well known retailer here in the UK that has my model, with cellular. Thus, no need to wait for Apple’s delivery dates.

I thought the AW wasn’t for me, but now I’ve had a good think about it, I think it’s just the thought of needing to have both devices on me that threw me. I now believe having cellular really brings the AW into its own, and offers flexibility.

And it’s only £5pm with o2 in the UK.

Thanks again for all of your responses, you’ve given me some great information.
If you have mental health issues, I strongly encourage you to keep the cellular model. Activate it, don't, but having the option can be big.
 
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I have more than one apple watch, and one of them is always cellular. Yes, most of the time, I have my phone on me, but there are other times that cellular is worth it for me.

1. I surf, and awhile back, my head hit my board and I got a concussion. In the water, I texted my boyfriend to come get me; he was at the beach by the time I got to the water's edge. That would have been a very, very different experience for me without the watch.

2. TMI: I sometimes have night terrors/nightmares that lead me to jump out of bed and rush out of the house to escape. I remember further freaking out one time when I realized I'd forgotten my phone and, before I was truly conscious, the extreme panic I felt realizing that I was out there and all alone. Having a cellular watch that I sleep with gives me a peace of mind.

So, yeah, these are very unique experiences, but I share them -- even the second one that I'm thinking people are gonna go to town with -- because I encourage you to think of unusual uses for it, more than out for a run or forgot my phone. Those are good reasons that I share, too, but you might have other reasons for wanting and appreciating cellular. :)
I appreciate sharing this experience and it’s great that people find using for certain features.
Couple months back I got a used iPhone se just to use for bike rides as mounting a big max phone to the handlebars was heavy and cumbersome. I considered paying for cellular data on my watch as an alternative so I have emergency roadside calls while biking but the phone has the added benefit of gps navigation in my eyeline and taking pics on my rides.
So similar to you I have a relatively specific and unusual use case for having a second phone around and can appreciate the cellular option on the watch.


what a time to be alive!
 
I have a cellular activated watch.
I have my phone with me most occasions and a few months back I actually disabled the cellular plan of my watch thinking i don't use it - however I do actually miss it. There are times I may pop out quickly and leave my phone at home - for a walk/run etc - the watch came in handy for this.
Also at work i do not use the work wifi - I prefer to stick to using my cellular considering I have plenty of data on my plan and get 5G coverage. I tend to leave my handset on my desk in my office and if I go elsewhere in the building its handy to have the watch in case of any emergency calls etc.
Tomorrow Im actually going to reactive the cellular plan for my watch - £5 a month on o2.
 
I've only ever bought GPS only but I am tempted to get a cellular capable watch (without service) for the scenario where something horrible happens and my phone isn't available.
This is such a good point. I currently have two watches with cellular functionality that I haven't activated. However, I do plan to activate cellular on my S7 that's coming Tuesday for this exact reason - something unplanned. I tend to always have my phone, but in an emergency situation, I may not. It will be the first time ever since 2015 that I will be activating cellular on a watch.
 
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I brought GPS only in the past but since GPS+Cellular is the only option for Stainless Steel I went with that even though I have zero plans to actually use the cellular since my watch is never that far from my phone.
 
If you have mental health issues, I strongly encourage you to keep the cellular model. Activate it, don't, but having the option can be big.
I have only the GPS model, which I’m returning.

I’ll buy the cellular version if I decide to have an AW at all.

Thank you for your advice.
 
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All I want now is full roaming. I visit Denmark, Norway, Germany, France, Austria etc several times each year, as I’m sure a lot of other fellow Europeans do.
This.
Is there any sign of a technical solution to permit roaming?
 
GPS + Cellular with cellular activated. While I try to always have my phone with me when I leave the house, there are times that I’ve forgotten it and the cellular has come in handy. Also, I have the watch set to Silent so that if I get a call, I feel the haptic feedback and can quickly/discretely check who‘s calling while I’m at work and especially during meetings when the phone is also on Silent.

Also, as others have pointed out, it is nice to have the cellular feature activated as a ‘just in case’ safety measure.
 
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Im also one of the people who always bought the cellular version. I train a lot 2-3 hours at a time. I hate having my cell when training, but wanna stay connected for the important things. Mainly family and house status like frond door or my nest cameras or even my smart lock, everything else is blocked with fitness focus turned on.
Or when walking to the corner store just a watch and a pair of Airpods Pro feels liberating.
 
This is such a good point. I currently have two watches with cellular functionality that I haven't activated. However, I do plan to activate cellular on my S7 that's coming Tuesday for this exact reason - something unplanned. I tend to always have my phone, but in an emergency situation, I may not. It will be the first time ever since 2015 that I will be activating cellular on a watch.
I might save you some money. I actually meant I've been tempted to buy a cellular version of the watch *without* activating the monthly cellular service charge. From what I understand you could still make an emergency call.


"In some countries and regions, international emergency calling works even if you haven't set up cellular service on the watch. Learn which countries and regions are supported."
 
I appreciate sharing this experience and it’s great that people find using for certain features.
Couple months back I got a used iPhone se just to use for bike rides as mounting a big max phone to the handlebars was heavy and cumbersome. I considered paying for cellular data on my watch as an alternative so I have emergency roadside calls while biking but the phone has the added benefit of gps navigation in my eyeline and taking pics on my rides.
So similar to you I have a relatively specific and unusual use case for having a second phone around and can appreciate the cellular option on the watch.


what a time to be alive!
I know, right. Very lucky are we. And I love that you found a way to make your specific life better with technology—yay!
 
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